AMERICAN Gladiators has become a legendary part of television in the 1990s.

The show has recently been featured in a new 30 for 30 ESPN feature entitled The American Gladiators Documentary.

American Gladiators was co-created by Johnny Ferraro and Dan Carr.

The two initially staged the first iteration of American Gladiators in their local gym in 1982.

Ferraro later successfully pitched the concept for the television show.

American Gladiators, which ran in the United States from 1989 to 1996, saw amateur athletes competing against self-proclaimed gladiators in various physical events.

Two men and two women would go head-to-head with a winner taking home $10,000.

Among the contestants were former bodybuilders and professional athletes, several of whom are featured in the new documentary.

In addition to the documentary, a new Netflix series is set to debut in late June featuring many of the American Gladiators.

Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators will share more of the rise and fall of the series, plus a closer look at what really went on behind the scenes.

But the show wasn’t just fun and games.

Many of the contestants suffered serious injuries while competing.

Here, we take a look at some of the top American Gladiators and what they’ve been up to since their time on the show ended.

GEMINI

Michael ‘Myke’ Horton was on American Gladiators from 1898-1992.

Horton enjoyed a 10-year career in the NFL and Canadian Football League and was also a martial artist.

After the show, he went on to land acting roles in films and commercials.

He works as a personal trainer and his two sons followed in his footsteps as professional football players.

NITRO

Dan Clark, known on the show as Nitro, appeared from 1989 to 1992 and later returned for the 1994–1995 season.

Clark was a football player who had a brief stint in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams.

After the show, Clark went on to appear in a number of films and television shows.

He served as a producer on the 2008 TV return of American Gladiators.

Clark has written two books and travels around the country sharing his story as a motivational speaker following a near-death experience in 2013.

MALIBU

Deron McBee was on the show in 1989, and then again from 1991-1992.

McBree went on to appear in several films and television shows including 1995’s Batman Forever and Roswell.

He also became a professional wrestler, known as Kid Fury.

SABRE

Lynn ‘Red’ Williams competed on the show from 1992-1996 before moving on to the International Gladiators in Birmingham, England from 1996-1998.

Williams was a professional football player before the show until suffering a career-ending injury in 1988.

After the show, he went on to appear in several films and television shows like many other competitors.

He and Malibu starred in the 1997 video game movie sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.

LASER

Jim Starr appeared on every season of the original American Gladiators.

He joined the show after time with various teams in the NFL and Canadian Football League, and after he won the Mr. Montana bodybuilding title in 1986.

After his time on the show, Starr remained in the fitness world.

He worked for different gyms and fitness centers before going on to found Sports Nutrition Consulting Group.

BLAZE

Sha-ri Pendleton-Mitchell appeared on the show from 1989-1992.

She was a hurdler and triple jumper at the University of Nebraska prior to the show.

Pendleton-Mitchell also competed in the 1991 US Olympic Festival in Los Angeles and competed as a bodybuilder.

The former competitor reportedly went to law school and had a son, Re-Al Mitchell, who has caught attention as a sprinter and played football for the University of San Diego in 2022.

ICE

Lori Fetrick appeared on the show from 1990 – 1992 and 1993 – 1996.

She then went on to appear on International Gladiators in Birmingham, England from 1996-1998.

Fetrick was a professional bodybuilder and reached the NPC National Level prior to the show.

Afterward, she continued her fitness journey, becoming a personal trainer and opening her own gym in Florida.

Fetrick recently launched a new podcast, Chillin’ with ICE.

Part two of The American Gladiators Documentary premieres on May 31 at 9pm on ESPN and will be available to stream after on ESPN+.